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Popular questions - student finance

When Student Finance Direct customer advisors answer phone calls about student finance applications, they get asked some questions more often than others.

This page lists the most commonly asked questions, and directs you to where you can find the answers.

How student finance applications are assessed

1. What do 'income assessed' and 'non-income assessed' mean?

Some student finance is dependent on your income or that of your household. You will need to provide information about these sources of income when you apply for income-assessed support.

2. What are 'dependent' and 'independent' students?

When applying for income-assessed types of student finance, 'dependent' students have the income of their parents taken into account, while 'independent' students do not. 

3. What are 'old system' and 'new system' students?

The student funding system changed from September 2006.

  • the majority of students starting from September 2006 will be 'new system' students - but you may be an exception to this if, for example, you took a gap year before starting your course in September 2006
  • if you started your course before September 2006, you will be an 'old system' student

For further information about which types of help you qualify for, follow the link below.

How to apply for student finance

1. Can you apply for a student loan if you have previously studied in higher education?

If you have previously studied in higher education, you may be eligible to apply for a loan for general maintenance but not to cover tuition fees for your course. Your local authority will tell you if you are eligible to apply for a loan again.

2. Who assesses student finance applications?

In most cases, the local authority for the area you normally live in will usually consider your application, even if you study outside that area.

3. How can European Union nationals find out about financial support to study in England?

For full details of support for EU nationals, please see the ' Students from other EU countries' section.

4. What are ART IDs, passwords and secret answers?

Your ART ID uniquely identifies your personal student finance account. You will need it every time you log in to your online account or contact Student Finance Direct by phone.

Your password and secret answer help identify you when you are accessing information about your account.

See 'Applying for student finance - Passwords and IDs' for further details on getting, changing, using and recovering your ART ID, password and secret answer.

5. I want to study part-time, what support can I get?

If you are studying part-time you may be able to receive a fee grant and help with course costs, depending on your household income and the course you are taking.

You may also be able to receive help through your college under the Access to Learning Fund and the Additional Fee Support Scheme.

Further support may be available if you have a low income, or a disability, mental health condition or specific learning difficulty.

6. I will be entering postgraduate study, am I entitled to support?

In general, there is no mandatory support for postgraduate students in England centrally funded by the government. An exception to this is PGCE studies for those wishing to become teachers.

How to keep details up to date

1. How do you update contact or banking details?

You can update your personal and banking details (including your preferred contact, home, and email addresses, and contact phone numbers) online, by contacting Student Finance Direct, or by completing a Change of Circumstance form.

2. What is the difference between a 'preferred contact address' and 'permanent home address'?

Your preferred contact address (or correspondence address) is where you will normally live during your studies, such as a hall of residence. Student Finance Direct will send most letters to you at this address.

Your permanent home address is where you normally live outside of term time, such as your parents' home. This is the address which is used to assign your case to the appropriate local authority.

Receiving student finance payments

1. What is a Payment Schedule Letter and what do you need it for?

Your Payment Schedule Letter outlines how much financial help you will be paid and on what dates.

2. If you change your bank details, do you receive a new Payment Schedule Letter?

You will not receive a new Payment Schedule Letter if you have changed your bank details.

3. Can you change the payment dates of your loan instalments?

No, you can't change the payment dates for your loan instalments. Provided you have supplied Student Finance Direct with all the necessary information and you register on your course, the payments are always made at the start of each term. These are the dates specified by your university or college.

4. What does the message 'Awaiting Confirmation' mean on an online student finance account?

It means that Student Finance Direct is still waiting for confirmation of your course attendance from your university or college. To get this, take your Payment Schedule Letter to your university or college. Once your attendance has been confirmed you will be able to receive the first instalment of your loan.

5. Do you receive a statement of your student loan balance?

The Student Loans Company will send you an annual statement of your student loan balance in September each year until you begin to repay your loan.

6. If you decide not to continue with your course, will you be eligible for financial support in the future?

Leaving your course early could affect your eligibility for student finance if you decide to take another course in the future.

Questions from parents, partners and spouses

1. When do I provide financial details in support of a student's application online?

The student must have completed their part of the application online before you can provide the financial details required.

2. What is an Alias ID?

The Alias ID is a unique identification that is used to link the student's online application with the information provided by their sponsors. You cannot enter their information online without this Alias ID.

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